Practical guide
What you need to get started
The short answer is: nothing. To chant the maha-mantra your voice is enough. But a few things help, and it is worth knowing what to look for in each before you buy.
Mundo Bhakti sells nothing and takes no commission on the links on this page. We link to shops run by temples and distributors within the tradition.
1. A book: the Bhagavad-gītā
This comes first, and it is the only essential. Devotees of Krishna read Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, by Śrīla Prabhupāda, which gives each verse in Sanskrit, a word-for-word translation and a commentary.
- Large or pocket edition: the text is the same. The large one is easier to read; the pocket one goes with you.
- Free online: the whole book is on vedabase.io.
- In print: at the shop of any temple or in the online shops listed in Shops.
How to read it, in The Bhagavad-gītā. And what to read next, in Recommended books.
2. A japa mala and its bag
The string of 108 beads used for daily chanting. When choosing one, look for this:
- The material: the traditional one is tulasī wood. Neem is sturdier and is often recommended for beginners.
- Bead size: medium beads are easier to handle than very small ones.
- A knot between each bead, so they don’t ride over each other as you move them.
- The bag, with its hole for the index finger and, ideally, a round counter.
Where to get it: best of all, in person at the shop of a temple, where they will also show you how to use it. Online, the Māyāpur store has tulasī malas and bags (see Shops). In the meantime you can chant with the digital japa mala.
How to use it, in The japa mala.
3. A corner for Krishna
You don’t need an elaborate altar. A clean shelf, at eye level or higher, used for nothing else, is enough, with:
- A picture of Krishna, ideally with Rādhā.
- A picture of Caitanya and Nityānanda (the Pañca-tattva).
- A picture of Śrīla Prabhupāda.
That is where you offer your food and where you can sit to chant. Temple shops sell prints for the altar.
4. A plate for offering
A plate, a bowl and a cup used only for offering food to Krishna. They can be steel, which is usual, or any new tableware you set aside for it. How to offer, in Prasādam.
5. Incense
It isn’t necessary, but it helps mark the moment. A stick is offered before the altar before chanting. Choose a natural one with a gentle scent. Temples sell it.
What comes later
Some things you will see devotees use that you don’t need to buy at first. They make sense once the practice is part of your life:
- Tulasī neck beads (kaṇṭhī-mālā): they show that the wearer has placed themselves under Krishna’s protection. People usually start wearing them when they commit to the practice.
- Tilaka: the pale clay used to mark the forehead.
- Traditional clothing: dhotī and kurtā for men, sari for women. Mostly worn at the temple.
Where to buy
Whenever you can, at the shop of your temple. If there isn’t one nearby, in Shops we have gathered online shops run by temples and distributors within the tradition, with what each one sells and what to know before ordering.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to start?
It can cost nothing: the Gītā is free online and you need nothing to chant. If you want the book in print and some beads with a bag, it is a small expense.
Will any 108-bead mala do?
For counting, yes. But the stone malas with a tassel sold as accessories are meant to be worn around the neck; tulasī or neem wood malas, with knots and a head bead, are made for chanting.
Can I have an altar if I live with people who don’t practise?
Yes. It can be as discreet as a shelf in your room. What matters is that it is a clean, respected place.